Moving to Colombia from France

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Colombia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Colombia, you would find that Colombia is 48.9% cheaper than France overall. A €65,700 salary in France would need to be roughly COP119,293,178 in Colombia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from France to Colombia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 COP119,293,178

To maintain the same standard of living in Colombia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 62.5% less

Groceries

pay 46.2% less

Transportation

pay 39.8% less

Housing

pay 51.1% less

Childcare

pay 57.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 65.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 3761.02 COP (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from France to Colombia, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
425 ↑ 187% vs 2020

people moved from France to Colombia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Colombia?

Top countries of origin for Colombia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Colombia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
CO
25.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

FR
82%
CO
51%

France performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
CO
$1,758
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
CO
24.5

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
CO
24.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
CO
1.8t

France generally does better on environment, though Colombia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
CO
17.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
CO
4.4%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Colombia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
CO
9.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
CO
$18,800

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
CO
74.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
CO
11.7

France performs better than Colombia across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bogota Rain: 31.5 in/yr (799 mm)
61° / 45°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Bogota
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 61°/47°F (16°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 60°/45°F (15°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
View all months
Month Paris Bogota
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Colombia. To live, work, or study long-term in Colombia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Colombia's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Colombia

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Colombia without a visa.
Colombia passport

Colombia passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Colombia passport holders can enter France without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Colombia than France?

Yes — Colombia is on average about 52% cheaper than France. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Colombia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly COP29,823,294 in Colombia on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Colombia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Colombia has 17.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Colombia safe for expats?

France performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Colombia is 25.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France. About 51% of people in Colombia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Colombia compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 24.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Colombia, compared to 33.4 in France. Colombia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Colombia compared to France?

The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Colombia?

The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR CO
Population 68,305,148 49,059,221
Currency Euro (€) Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +57
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 123